“We definitely learned some lessons last year,” says Melissa Flynn, LSCC executive director. For starters, this year’s schedule is more consistent, as opposed to adding September and October on the fly in 2010.

Restaurants will also play a more prominent role. Though the details aren’t confirmed yet, the evening market will feature a “What’s Cooking in Lincoln Square” component. Each week a different neighborhood restaurant will offer a cooking demonstration or samples of dishes created using ingredients purchased at the farmers market. “You’ll see how restaurants are connecting with farmers,” says Flynn. “It emphasizes the importance of the local food movement.”